Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-03-25
WEEKLY GRAPHIC.
KrRKsyILLE. MO.
7. Z. Sublctte. Proprietor
THE DEMOCRAT, AND THAT SETTLE.
MENT."


posed of men, who claimed to be
the leaders of both political parties
in the county, existed in and about
the county seat. While the men
comprising this combination We
hemently claimed that they were
dy4d-in-the-wool democrats, or
that they were all-wool-and- -a-yard-
wide republicans, they we're really
neither, but were politicians for
revenue only. The purpose of
this combination was to dictate
who should hold the county and
district offices and receive the
government appointments. 1t is
needless to say that the lucky
ones, in getting into Office by cleo
ton or appointment, were men,
bers of this combination. The
political principles OF the differ
ent members of this combination
were 'hawked' about the country
and were made the subject of
campaign thunder in all of the
school houses and number of
the churches in the county. Now
and then an outsider was given a
"sop" by way of an Office when it
was thought he could be used as a
tool to strengthen the combina-
ton. If he happened to be one
they could not handle he was
"kllled off, politically, and his
place given to another. This COM
bination had the organs some
times called newspapers, under
thumb and they were not allow
ed to expose any political dishon-
esty; but let there be ever so fla
grant violation of honest, political
principles, these ] organs were
compelled to rise up and proclaim
1t blessed or else keep silent. Two
weeks ago the GRAPHIC made a
statement In regard to surplus
fees, which were kept by certain
officials, that surprised and star
tied the entire county, and it has
been vastly amusing to every one,
to see the other papers founder
ing about trying to get out of the
predicament in which, they
thought, this statement placed
them. The Democrat of last week
charges that we knew, during the
campaign, that the taxpayers were
being defrauded. We admit that
We knew of the condition of the
county affairs, but the Democrat
was also thoroughly acquainted
with every fact as was every news
paper man in the county.
But with all this knowledge the
Democrat, during the campaign
was silent as a grave yard at mid
night. There was some excuse
for US, for Mclaughlin was the
nominee of the Republican party.
Besides if theGraphic had said any
thing during the campaign, both
the other papers would have done,
as they did last week, cried out
business jealousy" wants pat
ronage," etc, etc. But there was
no excuse for the Democrat, and
now his patrons, who have
supported him, want to know
why he didn't unbridle his right
eous Indignation and, for once in
his life, riseu up and be something
besides the silly, whimpering,
whining nonentity that he is.
Echo answers, why. He began
his article last week with ''Tax-
payers Tickled." But if the poor
taxpayers had waited for the
astute editor of the Democrat to
tickle them they would have
grown gray while waiting. AS to
''Fairplay,' who communicated"
with last weeks journal, he is
either a democrat or voted and
worked with the combination.
Otherwise he would not have
rushed into print to whitewash
over a direct violation of the
statutes and the constitution
of the state, that the Democrat
might be screened from censure
for having kept silent during the
campaign. But it has gone forth
and we have no apology to offer.
We chose our own time to make the
statement and we made it at that